Pump assembly



Aug. 25, 1942. n w, L, HUGHES PUMP AssEMBLY- Filed Dec. 22, 1941 Patented Aug. 25, 1942 irse sr'is GFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention is directed to a pumping assembly designed more particularly, but not in any degree limited, to oil and like wells wherein a materially increased output is assured without requiring a corresponding increase of the power.

The primary object of the invention is the arrangement of tandem pumps in a single well casing, and means for simultaneously operating them and segregating their deliveries, together with' complete separation of the respective operating Zones of the pump when the assembly is in operating position.

A further object of the invention is the pro- Vision of the pumps on a single operating rod and the arrangement of the pump parts to complete their unit positioning in the casing and their unit withdrawal from the casing, together with means associated with th'e assembly which in positioning the assembly for use acts to segregate the operative zones of the respective pumps, with such means automatically locked in position when the assembly is applied, and automatically unlocked and withdrawn with the withdrawal of the assembly.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which': v

Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation illustrating the invention, the pumping assembly being in operative position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the upper by-pass unit.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the same.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the lower by-pass unit.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of the same.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the retaining plug.

Figure '7 is a vertical section of the same.

Figure 8 is `a vertical sectional view partly in elevation showing the packing gland for segregating the operative Zones of the respective pumps,

Figure 9 is a bottom plan View Figure 10 is an elevation of the locking for the packing gland shown in Figure 8.

Figure 11 is an end View of the same.

Figure 12 is an elevation of the same viewed from an angle different from that of Figure 10.

The improved pumping yassembly includes a casing made up of an upper pump barrel 2 in which operates a more or less conventional pumping unit 3 operated through a suction rod 2i! which leads through a conduit 2| to the power at the upper end of the well, the conduit providing for the flow of the combined output of the tandem pumps to the upper end of the well.

of the same.

unit

Arranged in alignment with the barrel 2 is a tubular casing I approximately corresponding to the diameter of the barrel 2 and connected to the barrel by an upper by-pass element 5 which will be more particularly described hereinafter, and which has threaded connection with and unites the barrel 2 and casing 1. To the lower end of the casing is connected the lower by-pass element II, also to be later more speciiically described, and from this element depends in axial alignment with the barrel 2 and casing 1, but of increased diameter relative to these parts, what may be termed a retaining case I3 for the locking assembly. A retaining block is iitted in the lower end of the case I3 and in turn supports a pump barrel I6 within which is mounted the lower pump unit I8, the barrel I6 having the usual inletI valve I9 at its lower end. Th'e respective pumping units 3 and I8 are connected by a pump rod 4, so that the pump units are operated simultaneously and similarly in the actuation of the sucker rod 2U.

The upper by-pass element 5 is formed ex- 'teriorly of the connections for the upper pump barrel 2 and the casing I with one or more through channels or bores 5B and one or more interrupted channels 5A, the latter of which open at their upper ends to the interior of the member 5 and thus communicate with the upper pump barrel 2. Each interrupted channel 5A is provided with an independent depending inlet pipe terminating at its lower end in a valve 6, and serving thus as an inlet pipe terminating at its lower end in a valve 5, and serving thus as an inlet for the upper pump 3. The lower by-pass member II has through channels IIA communieating at their lower ends with the interior of the retaining case I3 and communicating through pipes it with the through channels 5B of the upper by-pass member. The upper ends of the through channels 5A are in open communication with an elongated nipple I carried by the exterior of the upper by-pass member, extending longitudinally of and concentric with the upper i pump barrel 2 and in communication at the upper end with the pipe 2|. As the lower end of the retaining case I3 is open to the outlet of the lower pump unit, it is obvious that such outlet will flow through the case i3, the pipe or pipes IIJ, the elongated nipple I to the pipe 2| while the upper pump assembly draws its supply through the valve 6 and connected pipe, through the interrupted channels 5A and to the interior of the pump barrel 2, discharging at the upper end of this pump barrel, and at this point mingling with the discharge from the lower pump through the elongated nipple I, causing the outlet from both pumps to be delivered through the pipe 2|.

It is, of course, important that the operating zones of the respective pumps must be completely segregated while the pumps are in use, and yet as the pump assembly is to be introduced and withdrawn as a unit, the means for segregating the pumping zones must be introduced and removed with the pumps. It is further apparent that while the pumps are operating, the packing means for segregating the pump Zones must be held in position, regardless of the movement of the pumps and pump rod 4, and also apparent that this packing means must be capable of removal when the entire pumping assembly is withdrawn from the well.

To provide for this function, there is provided a packing cylinder 9 within which is arranged at the upper end a packing 8A to serve as an inner seal for the pump rod 4, and below the packing 8A are additional packing glands QA for further sealing the connection. The lower end of the packing cylinder is provided with the depending element I2 formed at its lower end with an annular projection IZA providing an abrupt shoulder IZB. Pivotally supported within the retaining case I3 is a multiple frame made up of vertical bars 22 equally spaced circumferentially in co-operating pairs. a locking dog I4 is pivotally supported at the upper end at I4B, the lower end of which is upwardly and inwardly inclined, as at I4A. The inner edge of each dog I4 is provided with an abrupt notch I4F which is of a size and in a position to receive the annular projection IZA and lop over the shoulder IZB when the dogs are in the innermost position, Each dog is provided with a leaf spring IAC which bears against the retaining case I3 and serves to normally influence the dogs toward movement in locking or operative position.

The packing gland described is moved downward under the iniiuence of an element 23 on the pump rod 4, and it will be apparent that as the pump assembly is moved into the well casing, the pump rod 4 will move the sealing unit downwardly until the element 2I projects suiciently into the retaining case I3 to cause the dogs to engage the annular projection IZA and lock the sealing element in position to segregate the respective pumping zones.

At an appropriate point, the pump rod 4 above the lower pump assembly, or more particularly,

the upper end of the lower pumping unit, is of conical form, as at 24, and this conically shaped formation is designed, in the complete withdrawal operation of the assembly, to engage the inclined lower edges I 4A of the dogs I4 and spread the dogs against the influence of the springs I4C to release the annular projection IZA of the sealing assembly. The sealing assembly is then free, and the entire unit may be readily withdrawn from the upper end of the well.

Of course, the means for releasing the dogs is so arranged in the lower pump unit as to avoid engaging the dogs in the ordinary pumping stroke, but will so engage and operate the dogs Between each pair of bars on the continuing upward movement of the pump for withdrawal purposes.

It is thus apparent that the intake and output of each pump are completely segregated and do not co-mingle until above the upper pump unit. It is further apparent that the packing means to maintain this segregation is introduced on the introduction of the pumping assembly, and when reaching a proper sealing position, is locked against independent movement until the pump units per se have been moved upwardly to a degree beyond such upward movement for actual pumping, and in such extreme upward movement, automatically releasing the sealing elements for their continued upward movement in the complete with'drawal action of the parts.

All the above described operations contribute to the forming of two separate and complete pumping units, each pumping its allotted capacity per stroke without conflicting with each other; and thereby increasing the capacity per stroke approximately 75% over the usual type of pump in which the integral moving parts can be inserted or extracted through tubing, pipe or conduit.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A pumping assembly comprising tandem pumps, means for simultaneously and similarly operating the pumps, packing means for segregating the pumping zones of the respective pumps, said packing means including packing glands and an element presenting an annular projection, elements for controlling this pump delivery from the respective pumps to prevent the operation of one pump from interfering with that of the other, locking means for the packing means including spring-operated dogs formed with notches to receive and engage said annular projection to lock the packing means in position, and means operative in the extreme upward position of the lower pump piston to release the dogs from engagement with such annular projection.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the means to release the dogs includes means on the lower pump piston to spread the dogs to release the packing means when the lower pump is drawn to the extreme upper position in its zone.

3. A construction as defined in claim l wherein the locking means is mounted in a retaining case open to the outlet of the lower pump, and wherein the upper pump is mounted in a pump barrel, and including an upper by-pass open in part to the pump barrel for the inlet to the upper pump, the upper by-pass having through openings communicating at the lower end with the retaining case, and at the upper end with an elon gated nipple surrounding and closed against the upper pump barrel, except at the extreme upper end of the latter.

4. A construction as dened in claim l wherein the locking means includes a frame carrying a plurality of circumferentially spaced dogs pivotally supported at their upper ends, formed in their inner edges with notches and having their lower ends upwardly converging, and springs for normally holding the dogs in a predetermined operative position.

WILLIE LEE HUGHES. 

